KUALA LUMPUR: Public have been cautioned not to panic over the heavy presence of police and enforcement personnel at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) tomorrow as there will be a bio-terrorism drill, Project Vector (Bioterrorism Evidence Exploitation Workshop and Operation), expected to be conducted in the airport vicinity.
Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said the drill was a tabletop exercise to improve efficiency while dealing with bioterrorism related threats mainly at the country’s entries.
He said the workshop will include several elements from various departments, among which were the forensics , DNA databank, CBRNE (chemical, biologicl, radiological, nuclear and explosives) unit, counter terrorism, weaponry, strategic sources and technology (StaRT), the dictrict police and other related units.
“This exercise will also give our personnel better exposure and knowledge on biosecurity and to identify the causes and signs of a possible biological attack,” he said in a statement today.
Among the agencies involved in the drill will be Malaysia Airports Berhad, Immigration Departmnet, Health Ministry, Fire and Rescue Department, Customs, Defence Ministry, Atomic Energy Licensing Board and the Department Of Chemistry.
“We do not want public to be alarmed by the heavy presence of police and enforcement personnel at KLIA. It is just a drill to make sure there are no loose edges in an event of a real bioterrorism attack”.
Wan Ahmad said the workshop and drill, expected to be executed tomorrow, will also be used as a benchmark to review and update the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) of the departments and agencies involved in the drill.